{"id":27742,"date":"2025-02-23T00:28:00","date_gmt":"2025-02-22T22:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=27742"},"modified":"2025-02-23T08:40:08","modified_gmt":"2025-02-23T06:40:08","slug":"arab-leaders-meet-in-riyadh-to-counter-trumps-gaza-plan-and-discuss-reconstruction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/arab-leaders-meet-in-riyadh-to-counter-trumps-gaza-plan-and-discuss-reconstruction\/","title":{"rendered":"Arab leaders meet in Riyadh to counter Trump\u2019s Gaza plan and discuss reconstruction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

6 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prominent leaders of the Arab world convened in Riyadh on February 21, 2025, to devise a strategy for the post-war reconstruction of Gaza, aiming to counter U.S. President Trump\u2019s controversial proposal for the United States to “take over” the Palestinian territory and forcibly relocate its residents.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The meeting, attended by leaders from Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, and other nations, underscored a rare moment of unity among Arab nations in rejecting Trump\u2019s plan. However, disagreements remain over governance and funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A photo from the meeting showed Saudi Arabia\u2019s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman alongside key regional figures, including Jordan\u2019s King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al Sabah, and Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arab leaders did not share specific figures on rebuilding, but the World Bank, EU, and UN estimate that restoring essential services would take three years, while full reconstruction could take 10 years, costing over $50 billion, with $15 billion needed for housing alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Talks end without a joint statement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources from the Saudi government confirmed that the meeting had concluded on a positive note however, no final statement or joint communique was released and the topics of discussion were kept confidential due to the sensitive nature of the talks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The discussion was confidential,” the source said, emphasizing the private nature of the talks. The official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) described the gathering as a “fraternal consultative” meeting, focusing on “various regional and international issues, especially joint efforts in support of the Palestinian cause, and developments in the situation in the Gaza Strip.”<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Arab<\/a>
(From left to right) Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa; Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani; UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; Emir of Kuwait Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah; King Abdullah II of Jordan; Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi; Jordan Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah; and UAE’s National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed al-Nahyan during their meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 21, 2025. (Image Credit: Saudi Ministry of Media)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi\u2019s office later confirmed his departure from Riyadh after the high-level discussions, which centered on the future of Gaza and its reconstruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Rejection of Trump\u2019s plan<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump’s controversial proposal, which called for the U.S. to take control of Gaza and develop it into the \u201cRiviera of the Middle East\u201d after relocating its more than two million residents to Egypt and Jordan, has been widely condemned across the Arab world. Leaders argue that the plan dismisses decades of efforts toward Palestinian self-determination, violates the rights of Gazans, and risks prolonging regional instability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During a February 11 meeting in Washington, King Abdullah II of Jordan reiterated his firm opposition to the idea, stating that Egypt was preparing a more viable plan for Gaza\u2019s future. The Riyadh discussions revolved around refining “a version of the Egyptian plan,” according to a Saudi government source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump\u2019s suggestion was later reframed by his aides as a challenge to Middle Eastern leaders to propose a better alternative. \u201cAll these countries say how much they care about the Palestinians,\u201d Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. \u201cIf the Arab countries have a better plan, then that\u2019s great.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Trump seemed to concede on Friday that his persuasion efforts had failed. \u201cWell, we pay Jordan and Egypt billions of dollars a year. And I was a little surprised they\u2019d say that, but they did,\u201d Trump said. He added, \u201cI\u2019ll tell you, the way to do it is my plan. I think that\u2019s the plan that really works. But I\u2019m not forcing it. I\u2019m just going to sit back and recommend it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Egyptian plan for Gaza’s reconstruction<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Egyptian media has reported that Cairo was proposing a 10-to-20-year plan to rebuild Gaza with Gulf Arab funding, but the plan is yet to secure the full support of Arab nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have experience, and we have applied it (before) in Egypt,\u201d Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said in a news conference. \u201cThe capability to rebuild the (Gaza) Strip and executing it in way that will make it better than it was before the destruction \u2013 truly three years is an acceptable timeline to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Palestinians<\/a>
Palestinians sit next to a fire among the rubble of buildings destroyed during the Israeli offensive, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, at Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, February 17, 2025. (Image Credit: Reuters\/Mahmoud Issa)<\/sup><\/sub><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Although Cairo has yet to publicly release its reconstruction proposal, former Egyptian diplomat Mohamed Hegazy has outlined a phased plan aimed at stabilizing and rebuilding Gaza over a three-to-five-year period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plan includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n